6 Ways to Fix Your iPhone 4's Reception Problems

We've collected six ways to avoid the iPhone 4's "death grip" problem  including buying a case, using tape, and even washing your hands.

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Apple has been plagued with complaints about the iPhone 4's propensity to lose reception when the phone is being held very firmly in a user's left hand, the so-called "death grip". We noted this issue in our official iPhone 4 review, but the complaints took on a new life when Consumer Reports on Monday said they couldn't "recommend" the iPhone 4 because of its antenna issues.

Since there are many people out there who already own the iPhone 4 and the chances of a massive iPhone 4 recall are slim, we've collected six ways to fix the reception problem. The first three on our list are sure-fire ways to fix the problem, while the last three are a little off the beaten path.

If you have other suggestions or fixes, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

1.) Buy a Bumper or Charging Case

Our first recommended solution is to simply purchase an external case. Normally we recommend a case to protect the fragile unit, but apparently a case will also fix your reception problems because your bare skin will no longer be touching the phone. Apple sells "official" bumper cases for $29, but there are other dealers who sell cases for cheaper. (Here are 51 great iPhone 4 cases.) Another option in this realm is a case that holds a battery  a good option for those who don't get enough use time each day with their phone.

2.) Use Your Right Hand Only

One way to ensure that you're not covering the antenna with your palm is to talk on the phone with your right hand. If it's hard to remember to only use your right, take a look at our sixth option.

3.) Apply Tape Over the Antenna

Consumer Reports recommends applying a piece of duct tape to the bottom left corner to solve the antenna problem, but we decided to use gaffer's tape because it looked more stylish and wouldn't cause a sticky mess like duct tape.

On a less serious note, here are three slightly less practical ways to fix your iPhone 4's antenna problem.

4.) Wash Your Hands

As bizarre as it sounds, a biochemist is claiming that having clean hands means less interference. The biochemist says "This problem will be difficult to reproduce in Apple's labs, because the engineers are required to wash their hands before touching devices, which also strips off the natural hand electrolytes that are ever-present in the field on a hot day."

5.) Wear Gloves

Yes, it's patently ridiculous. But we tested wearing latex gloves and it made the left hand interfere less with the reception.

6.) Tie Your Left Hand Behind Your Back

If you have a habit of using your left hand to talk on the phone, maybe you should go the extreme route and tie your left hand behind your back. Or, whatever, just go ahead and chop it off.

Sean Ludwig is a Staff Editor for PCMag Mobile. Sean writes about the latest mobile technology and social media. He also edits PCMag.com articles and newsletters. Previously, he has written about technology, business, and entertainment for Fast Company, Seattle Weekly, and the Kansas City Star. Sean graduated with a Bachelor's degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri. He enjoys watching films, attending concerts, and writing music.
Follow Sean on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/seanludwig
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